Mugabe Sworn In

Zimbabwe’s run-off elections took place as scheduled last Friday, despite mounting protests from the African and international community and calls for a postponement. Standing unopposed, Mugabe announced himself victorious in the sham elections.

The few African observers who were present immediately called for the elections to be held again, stating that those who did vote did so only out of fear and intimidation. Many people were beaten for not voting or being able to prove that they voted. The official results showed that the 84-year old president won all ten provinces with 85.5% of the vote.

Archbishop Tutu called on African leaders to refuse to recognize Mugabe as president, US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice urged China, Russia and South Africa to back action against him. The US plans to toughen its sanctions against Zimbabwe and is urging the Security Council to do the same. Echoing Tsvanigirai’s earlier call for peacekeeping intervention, Tutu and Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Odinga called on the African Union to send troops to intervene in Zimbabwe.

Despite these outcries, Mugabe was sworn in on Sunday, stating in his speech that he hoped to form a unity government.

The African Union will meet today in Sharm El Shiekh and Zimbabwe will be on the agenda. Tsvangirai is expected to attend and appeal to African leaders not to recognize the re-election. Mugabe is also scheduled to be there and he will likely come under a lot of pressure at the AU meeting, after his own peers in the SADC have rejected the election. If African leaders do not unite on this issue, with a firm stand against Mugabe and non-recognition of him as a democratically elected President, the continent will no doubt have several more governance crises to contend with.

-Edith Jibunoh, ONE policy staff

(Phone) Call for Action on PEPFAR

Today in Washington, the Global AIDS Alliance hosted a teleconference for journalists to talk about the urgency of passing the Hyde-Lantos Bill (a.k.a. PEPFAR). Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a longtime supporter of the fight against poverty, was joined on the call by Annette Tilleman-Dick, eldest daughter of the late Representative Tom Lantos, for whom this legislation is named. Tomorrow Mrs. Lantos will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her late husband in part for his dedicated work on AIDS and poverty.

Archbishop Tutu said, “The U.S. has a wonderful opportunity to help make God’s world a compassionate place, so the vulnerable ones will know they’re not here to be taken advantage of but to be cared for. We belong together as a human family. I plead with the leaders in Congress for the sake of the world, for the sake of the future, expedite the passing of the legislation.”

Annette Tilleman-Dick said, “Freedom and prosperity come with responsibility. We have an opportunity to see this bill, which was my father’s final work, come to conclusion.”

You can listen to a recording of Desmund Tutu and Annette Tilleman-Dick speaking on today’s call on the ONE podcast.

-Taylor Royle

Desmond Tutu: ‘Debt is Modern-Day Apartheid’

Be sure to check out the op-ed about debt, healthcare and the urgency of passing the Jubilee Act in the Senate written by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu in Wednesday’s Baltimore Sun. Writes Tutu:

Lesotho’s situation snows how debt and extreme poverty create a crisis for children…Lesotho has only six pediatricians looking after its 800,000 children. One-third of Lesotho’s children are not in school. Meanwhile, Lesotho’s debt repayments equal its entire education budget.

He continues:

As the Senate now considers the Jubilee Act, it can do it’s part to help ensure that Africans and Asians are able to sue their own resources for their own development.

Read the full op-ed, “Debt cancellation a victory for the world,” on The Balitmore Sun’s site.

-Monét Cooper, Jubilee USA